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Poke The Box

The latest book, Poke The Box is a call to action about the initiative you're taking - in your job or in your life, and Seth once again breaks the traditional publishing model by releasing it through The Domino Project.

THE DIP BLOG by Seth Godin

All Marketers Are Liars Blog

On uniforms

Let me assert for a moment that marketing is about storytelling (hence the Liars book). If you're telling a story, though, that means that in some sense you're an actor. Not that you're con artist or doing something fraudulent... far from it. But that you're an actor in that you are using emotion and amplification of ideas to make your point in a limited amount of time.

Actors do better when they wear costumes.

And at work, a costume is called a uniform.

Would a cop be as effective at keeping the peace if she was wearing jeans and flip flops? What about a surgeon in a bathrobe? Sure, they need to wear something in the operating room, but don't try to persuade me that scrubs are just for utlity. It makes you more confident to know that they're dressing special in order to cut you open.

So, fast food places are pretty good at getting people to wear uniforms, but what about where you work? Why don't accountants or web designers or direct marketers wear uniforms to meetings? Not the bland invisible suit/dockers/gap uniform, but a real uniform?

For my new secret project, we're going to buy uniforms from Crooked Brook. Hey, even if you don't want to spring for the embroidery, you might want to try to get over your social weirdness uncomfotable about wearing a uniform to work mojo and give it a try.

TrackBack

» Everyone Loves a Man in Uniform from David V. Lorenzo
Having worked in the Hotel Industry for a number of years, I can attest to the credibility a uniform can lend to an individual. Seth Godin is working on a secret project where people will be wearing uniforms. Is Seth [Read More]

» Seth's Blog: On uniforms from ZARRYO
Seth's Blog: On uniforms
I think Seth is onto something here about uniforms.
In the future when I launch a new company... there will be no dockers or business casual allowed.
TUXEDOS FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!... [Read More]

Tracked on August 26, 2005 at 08:18 AM

» A uniform advantage from A Visit To Lornitropia
Seth Godin recently posted about uniforms, and the image they present to customers and others. He asks why normal companies don’t have the office folks wear them, and talks about a secret project to begin doing just that at his own company.
As i... [Read More]

Tracked on August 27, 2005 at 08:37 AM

» Uniforms better than advertising from Cherryflava
Marketing top dog Seth Godin thinks that it's easier to build a brand and act serious about doing it if you are in uniform. Would a cop be as effective at keeping the peace if she was wearing jeans and [Read More]

Tracked on August 29, 2005 at 03:39 AM

» the uniforms we wear... from lowercase
i like seth godin's stuff, and i almost always find something over on his blog to get you thinking. here's some insightful comments about uniforms: Would a cop be as effective at keeping the peace if she was wearing jeans... [Read More]

Tracked on August 29, 2005 at 04:23 AM

» Uniforms Send Stylesignals from Stylesignals
Marketing author Seth Godin blogs about how uniforms tell a story. In short: "Marketing is about storytelling ... If you're telling a story ... in some sense you're an actor ... Actors do better when they wear costumes ... And... [Read More]

Tracked on August 30, 2005 at 02:22 PM

» Nonverbal communication: What’s your story? You sure? from Lee's new Better Communication Results blog
Communication is all about sharing a (hopefully) passionate story with another. In doing so we often use shorthand — jargon, references to other cultural material to give additional flavour or ‘back story’, even clothing.
... [Read More]